(CNN) – As he waited with parents who feared that their kids were among the 20 children killed at a Connecticut elementary school on Friday, Rabbi Shaul Praver said the main thing he could do for parents was to merely be present.

“It’s a terrible thing, families waiting to find out if their children made it out alive,” said Praver, who leads a synagogue in Newtown, Connecticut, and was among nine clergy gathered with parents at a firehouse near Sandy Hook Elementary School, where the shooting occurred.

“They’re going to need a lot of help,” Praver said of those who are close to the dead.

From the first moments after Friday’s massacre, which also left six adults and the shooter dead, religious leaders were among the first people to whom worried and grieving families turned for help.

Over the weekend, countless more Americans will look to clergy as they struggle to process a tragedy in which so many of the victims were children.

“Every single person who is watching the news today is asking ‘Where is God when this happens?’” says Max Lucado, a prominent Christian pastor and author based in San Antonio.

Lucado says that pastors everywhere will be scrapping their scheduled Sunday sermons to address the massacre.

“You have to address it - you have to turn everything you had planned upside down on Friday because that’s where people’s hearts are,” Lucado says.

“The challenge here is to avoid the extremes – those who say there are easy answers and those who say there are no answers.”

Indeed, many religious leaders on Friday stressed that the important thing is for clergy to support those who are suffering, not to rush into theological questions. A University of Connecticut professor on Friday hung up the phone when asked to discuss religious responses to suffering, saying, “This is an immense tragedy, and you want an academic speculating on the problem of evil?”

“There is no good answer at that time that anyone can hear and comprehend and take in,” said Ian T. Douglas, the bishop for the Episcopal diocese of Connecticut, referring to counseling family and friends of the dead. “They’re crying out from a place of deep pain.”

Praver, the rabbi, will join a memorial service Friday night at Newtown’s St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church.

“We’re going to have a moment of prayer for the victims,” Praver said of the service. “We cannot let it crush our spirit and we march on.”

Some national religious groups are also sending staff to Newtown, with 10 chaplains dispatched from the North Carolina-based Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on Friday.

Public officials including President Obama, meanwhile, turned to the Bible in responding to the shooting. “In the words of Scripture, 'heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds,' ” Obama said from the White House, citing the book of Psalms.

Some religious leaders argue that modern American life insulates much of the nation from the kind of senseless death and suffering that plagues much of the world every day.

“Most of the world, for most of the world’s history, has known tragedy and trauma in abundance,” wrote Rob Brendle, a Colorado pastor, in a commentary for CNN’s Belief Blog after this summer’s deadly shooting in Aurora, Colorado, which left 12 dead.

“You don’t get nearly the same consternation in Burundi or Burma, because suffering is normal to there,” wrote Brendle, who pastored congregants after a deadly shooting at his church five years ago. “For us, though, God has become anesthetist-in-chief. To believe in him is to be excused from bad things.”

Lucado said there was an eerie irony for the Connecticut tragedy coming just before Christmas, noting the Bible says that Jesus Christ’s birth was followed by an order from King Herod to slay boys under 2 in the Roman city of Bethlehem.

“The Christmas story is that Jesus was born into a dark and impoverished world,” Lucado says. “His survival was surrounded by violence. The real Christmas story was pretty rough.”

Many religious leaders framed Friday’s shooting as evidence for evil in the world and for human free will in the face of a sovereign God.

“The Bible tells us the human heart is ‘wicked’ and ‘who can know it?’” the Rev. Franklin Graham said in a statement about the massacre. “My heart aches for the victims, their families and the entire community.”

Many religious leaders also said that such tragedies are a good time for lay people to express doubts about God – or anger.

“This is a time to go deep and pray,” says Lucado. “If you have a problem with God, shake a fist or two at him. If he’s God, he’s going to answer. And if he’s in control, he’ll find a way to let you know.

soundoff(9,195 Responses)

User-301

With all the evil in this world combined with mental sickness, it wouldn't shock me if we start seeing roadside bombs and suicide bombers within the next 2 years. All of this killing comes from loose laws, too much technology (Xbox 360 Call of Duty) and all this cell phone stuff. Simple minds get overloaded and can't compute. Remember, Can't compute Will Robinson – Cant compute. If the world does change as we know it Dec. 21, lets hope it is a change to take all the Gun Nut knuckleheads off the earth. For the record, If you own an assault rifle and not in living in Afghanistan, then you are a Gun Nut!

December 15, 2012 at 7:02 pm |

SixDegrees

Sorry, you're wrong. There have been roughly 20 mass shootings and between 100 – 150 people killed by them every year for the last several decades in the US. The rate hasn't budged despite all the technological changes you blame. In fact, thanks to population growth over that period, the per capita rate has actually declined slightly over the last half-century.

Your book is fine....until people try and claim it is divine in orgin....then it becomes absurd...and dangerous.

December 15, 2012 at 7:10 pm |

Get Real

Theocratic evangelical christians are scary and anti-American and would take away our rights to free speech and freedom of religion (or lack there of). Believe what ever you want, but do not force your beliefs upon me. As Patrick Henry said "I may not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it". I stand by this great American TRUTH. That said, I hope you give me the same basic American rights...

The bible is a book of myths and lies. God is imaginary and so is hell. If God were real he would be an evil monster. Who gives a rat's behind what the bible say's because it's pure fiction. How can you worship a god that has killed innocent children? If you worship the god of the bible you worship an evil murderer. Thank god that god is imaginary. Only a monster would make people knowing that they would eventually wind up in hell- especially when he had the choice to not make them at all, thus saving them from eternal torture.

Praise Lucifer, the bringer of truth, light and reason! Hail Satan, the imaginary adversary to an imaginary god, who has the balls to fight against god's evil ways! Glory be to the mythical beings of Lucifer and Satan who shall slay the evil mythical God of Abraham!!!! Remember what I said about free speech? Are you American enough to accept this concept?

December 15, 2012 at 7:10 pm |

jimmf

Hey Get real,

Your ignorance of God is the basis for your thinking. Let me get this straight, since we have people acting badly and we don't live in a heaven without evil, there is no God.

Is this right?

December 15, 2012 at 7:23 pm |

susan

Joe, really us believers really don't have to defend our beliefs. We just need to teach the word of our Lord. They have nothing on us.

December 15, 2012 at 7:25 pm |

Anon

F-ck your imaginary lord and all that represents that piece of $#it.

December 15, 2012 at 7:30 pm |

susan

Again-anon. I will pray for you. Please don't curse at me. Have some respect please. My God makes me a happy person. Why are you so unhappy?

December 15, 2012 at 7:34 pm |

jimmf

It's obvious we don't live in Heaven with the God-haters spewing there hatred.

You have FREE WILL to spew your hatred for God. You also have the FREE WILL to have faith that even in the face of evil, these innocent victims will be in a much better place than this place.

December 15, 2012 at 7:35 pm |

Anon

The feel good card ain't gonna work with me.
If you took the time to actually read the bible using critical thinking skills you'll notice that your god Yahweh/Jesus/Jehovah is a tyrant. But since you all suffer from cognitive dissonance and Stockholm syndrome there's nothing that would convince you otherwise. Hopefully education will eventually reduce Christianity to mythology status in a museum and no one would have to their brains scrambled since childhood with religious nonsense.

December 15, 2012 at 7:46 pm |

jimmf

Anon,

You believe in myths and you don't even know it. What explains the existence of complexity as seen with living organisms?

December 15, 2012 at 7:50 pm |

Anon

It's called evolution through the mechanism of natural selection you mindless creationist lemming.
Now throw yourself of a cliff if you don't accept gravity either.

December 15, 2012 at 7:53 pm |

jimmf

I got the answer I wanted. Now, tell me in your own words how something as complex as the eye could begin in the evolutionary model.

I don't think your smart enough to say.

December 15, 2012 at 7:56 pm |

Anon

Go read a proper college grade science book then.

December 15, 2012 at 7:57 pm |

jimmf

Anon, You are more ignorant than those you claim to be ignorant.

Look it up quickly and get back to me now.

December 15, 2012 at 7:59 pm |

jimmf

Anon, I'm in the process of proving that you believe in a myth just by applying a little critical thinking.

December 15, 2012 at 8:02 pm |

Anon

Ram a bible up your ass then.

December 15, 2012 at 8:09 pm |

jimmf

You put your faith in natural processes explaining life but you can't even tell me how the evolution of the eye started.

I can see where you get your hostility. You have no hope for anything more than this life and you don't even know why.

December 15, 2012 at 8:14 pm |

Anon

Do I look like a freaking Wikipedia?
Go look it up yourself.

December 15, 2012 at 8:18 pm |

jimmf

I really don't want to teach you about your faith but if I must.....

Have you ever heard of a photosensitive cell? It is claimed by faithful evolutionists that the evolution of the eye started with a random mutation creating a photosensitive cell on a sightless organism.

First of all, there is no evidence that random mutations can be so innovative as to create something like a photosensitive cell. But, for the sake of argument, say that the photosensitive cell was created.

Sight requires a light receiver, such as the photosensitive cell, the wiring to transmit those light signals or impulses, the process center to convert those signals to useful information, AND the intelligence to use the information for a SURVIVAL ADVANTAGE.

In other words, the beginning of eye evolution requires the formation of a complete and functional optical system through random natural processes. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE IN NATURE THAT INDICATES THIS COULD HAPPEN.

This video is really worthless. Tyson makes the argument that life is so imperfect that it must not be "designed". But Tyson and yourself must believe a fantastic miracle to explain the beginning of eye evolution.

You, and Tyson, are really confused.

December 15, 2012 at 8:55 pm |

Frums

This forum "Belief" appears to be on the surface a gathering place for individuals with Faith and a belief in a power higher than their self rightous (as those who have posted comments that cause conflict) self. After reading a bit today, I have found that there are far more non-believers than believers that post comments here. Maybe they should change the name of this blog from belief to whatever name you think this thread deserves. It certainly isn't something that I will read again...
I guess with a healthy curve for those of a mathmatical mind, those with a belief and those without a belief in something as a "higher power" will prove their position in 75 to 100 years for sure. If those of the mindset that there is a Higher power are correct then justice will surely be done. As I posted earlier, Justice cannot be robbed by Mercy. These are the rules..for the believers and maybe for the non-believers who have turned their backs... I guess it will remain a mystery for now, we will see eventually. As it is written, "every knee shall bend".

December 15, 2012 at 7:01 pm |

SixDegrees

I find those of faith claiming that god killed 20 young, blameless children to be far, far more evil and odious than anything any of the non-believers have posted. Most – like you – take the position that, "well, if those children hadn't been wearing those short skirts, this wouldn't have happened. It is a hate-filled message christians preach.

December 15, 2012 at 7:05 pm |

Get Real

Yeah your mythical god's knee shall bow to the mythical Satan.

December 15, 2012 at 7:06 pm |

Frums

God most certainly did NOT do anything like that. That was the act of a person who made a very bad choice. Short skirts? Maybe you should lay off the sauce...

December 15, 2012 at 7:10 pm |

jimmf

It's amazing that the same people that waged a fifty year campaign to get God out of schools is now asking 'Where was God?'

December 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm |

SixDegrees

What a hate-filled message you christians bring. Have you considered going to Connecticut and telling the parents of all those dead children that they're to blame for their children's death? Because that's what you're saying. Or braying. It is one of the most evil posts on this board, and it is echoed by lots of self-proclaimed christians who use their religion to hide behind while they belittle others with scorn, hatred and other christian values.

Go f uck yourself.

December 15, 2012 at 7:02 pm |

Santa

We get it wing nut.

We should all worship the God of your choice or he will kill our children.

December 15, 2012 at 7:04 pm |

vlad

they are asking this question???? REALLY??? the answers is BECAUSE GOD IS NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS

December 15, 2012 at 7:04 pm |

Santa

The only question we're asking is who wants to believe in a made up God who supposedly kills your children if you don't believe in him?

Shouldn't you be on medication?

December 15, 2012 at 7:08 pm |

jimmf

There is nobody more hate-filled than the ones who blame God for the actions of a no-conscience, no eternal judgement, empty vessel of a human being, killing innocents.

December 15, 2012 at 7:10 pm |

"Where is god" s a rhetorical question

It points out that your omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent being didn't do sh-it to save 20 innocent children and since he didn't he must either not exist or be totally im-potent

December 15, 2012 at 8:06 pm |

Andy

I bet Fred Phelps and his band of brainwashed loonies of the Westboro Cult are printing up new signs.

December 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm |

Surakij Vuthikornpant

Ohh....
And it is true about not all people was born evil.

Even it is also true too about......"Exercises of free wills without encompassing with morality & virtues (with & without intention) can pop up...
1.) Good deeds
2.) Not good,not bad deeds
3) Wrost cases,Evil deeds.

In another hand can say,"absence of "goodness" is problems of evil". ^^

By the way......."With your own free wills ,for another people good sakes....",
It called "Charity"1 of 7 Heavenly virtues,"the benevolent giving".

"Love" is the greatest of the greatest of virtue .

So it is also true too about...."free wills always encorage to use.But encompassing with morality & virtues.,Of course." ^^

December 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

Surakij Vuthikornpant

I mean "Encourage". ^^

December 15, 2012 at 6:58 pm |

Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

A loving message to the siblings of all the gun proponents in congress, the NRA and across the U.S. Go take your parents guns and kill them and then kill yourselves. A free barrel of cocaine and a golden tablet of the second amendment awaits you in hell. Good riddance.

December 15, 2012 at 6:55 pm |

Really?!

Obviously a lot of people posting on here do not believe in God. Why are these people so angry and insulting of the people that DO believe in God? Do you feel better about yourself if you curse a believer?

December 15, 2012 at 6:55 pm |

SixDegrees

Yes I do. Also, we'd get a lot more accomplished if people didn't keep pretending that their imaginary god will take care of anything, or is acting on their behalf and promoting their own particular brand of hatred and intolerance.

December 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

GodFreeNow

I can't speak for everyone. Personally, I'm neither angry or insulting of people that believe in god. I mostly feel sympathy for them and hope they see the light of reality and truth before they die.

December 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm |

Really?!

Six Degrees, Are you saying that people that believe in God hate people that don't believe in God?

December 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm |

Really?!

Godfreenow...Why do you feel sorry for people that believe in God?

December 15, 2012 at 7:01 pm |

susan

We just need to pray for them. I hope there comes a day where they can feel his love and get rid of the hate inside them.

December 15, 2012 at 7:02 pm |

Really?!

Thanks, Susan.

December 15, 2012 at 7:07 pm |

Get Real

Of course both are imaginary beings, but the true story is Satan is GOOD and God is EVIL. Satan tapped God on the shoulder and asked God please don't flood the earth and kill all those innocent children. God answered and said "Bra ha ha ha! I am allmighty god and can do what I want. It would please me to see those babies drown in agony! Bra ha ha ha!". Satan said "that's wack, dude! You are one cruel, sick, evil monster". So Satan left heaven and promised to help mankind against the evil imaginary God. Then one day all the people grew up and realized God and Satan are both imaginary so they went away hand in hand as boyfriends forever. That is after God asked Satan's forgiveness for all of the mean spiteful things he did. The End.

December 15, 2012 at 6:54 pm |

Joe

you must think you're so smart. anyways thanks for your OPINION

December 15, 2012 at 7:04 pm |

Like

Like!

December 15, 2012 at 8:12 pm |

thomas fowler

Dear God why do you allow so much violence in our schools?
GOD:Because im not allowed in your schools.

December 15, 2012 at 6:53 pm |

Santa

This is God's wrath?

Are you freakin' insane!

December 15, 2012 at 6:55 pm |

SixDegrees

What a hate-filled message you christians bring. Have you considered going to Connecticut and telling the parents of all those dead children that they're to blame for their children's death? Because that's what you're saying. Or braying. It is one of the most evil posts on this board, and it is echoed by lots of self-proclaimed christians who use their religion to hide behind while they belittle others with scorn, hatred and other christian values.

December 15, 2012 at 6:55 pm |

GodFreeNow

Again, god is so weak that a "keep out" sign is enough to bar him? Fascinating. Great god you have.

December 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

Get Real

You are one of those whack jobs that would force belief in your god and religion on others. I support your right to believe in what ever you want but do not force it on others.

It is truly unAmerican to force god or any specific religion on individuals. That is why your imaginary god is not in American schools and classrooms.

December 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

I call BS on you!

I call BS on you! Please show one public law or regulation that says "God is not allowed in school" you can't because it doesn't exist. There are all kinds of laws governing things like teachers not forcing children to pray to a specific god. But that's banning nutcase teachers, it does not ban and gods.

December 15, 2012 at 8:18 pm |

susan

Did I not say I went through a shooting this May? I understand what they are going through. All I'm saying is there is a God and I will continue to pray for you nonbelievers.

December 15, 2012 at 6:52 pm |

SixDegrees

F uck off.

December 15, 2012 at 6:52 pm |

GodFreeNow

There is a god... because you say so? Sorry. That's not good enough for me.

December 15, 2012 at 6:54 pm |

Weasley

There are many "believers" who do evil things. Maybe you should pray for them first.

December 15, 2012 at 7:04 pm |

susan

Your words don't hurt me. I forgive you. Let me guess, you will come back insulting me more. Do I bother you that much? Or is it you know deep down that you are scared? I just don't understand why you hate so much. Why is your heart so dark?

December 15, 2012 at 7:17 pm |

Anon

Again f-ck off.

December 15, 2012 at 7:31 pm |

susan

I didn't think you would say anything important. Please try to talk to God sometime. He will listen if you open your heart up.

December 15, 2012 at 7:39 pm |

Anon

If that requirement relies shutting off your cognitive brain functions of logic and reason, then no.

December 15, 2012 at 7:56 pm |

susan

Anon-i have a question for you....If I were one of those children in that school and you were the teacher who were protecting us and I began to pray to my God, would you still shield me from the shooter?

December 15, 2012 at 7:59 pm |

Anon

I'm extremely doubtful that a child at that age would even know about the concept of prayer unless the parents started indoctrinating at a younger age. Shielding would be the only choice no matter if the child is "praying" or not.

Thank you very much for reading,sir.
Sincerely & faithfully.
Surakij Vuthikornpant.

December 15, 2012 at 6:50 pm |

rick

Run!

December 15, 2012 at 6:54 pm |

susan

Anon-i will pray for you.

December 15, 2012 at 6:48 pm |

Colin

Praying hey, Susan. Isn't that where you think silent thoughts like "Please God forgive Anon" and a being that created the entire Universe and its billions of galaxiews about 13.72 billion years ago reads your mind?"

Yeah Susan, you do that. You talk to your imaginary friend all you want. Do you also see sparkly pink unicorns?

December 15, 2012 at 6:51 pm |

Joe

and thank you for your OPINION guy who THINKS he's very smart

December 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

anon2

susan- please go die

December 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

Lena

Susan, You are a shining light in this hate filled blog towards believers. We believers are sinners too, and that's why church is a hospital for sinners, not buildings for saints.

December 15, 2012 at 9:37 pm |

Get Real

One of the family's interviewed on CNN said that their young son came face to face with the shooter as his teacher was shot. The boy ran passed the shooter and escaped unharmed. The boys parents said that an Angel saved their sons.

How stupid! Get real!

Where were the Angeles to protect the other innocent children who were slaughtered by the deranged madman? Why did god so favor this young man and allow the others to suffer which a tragic and horrible death?

The answer is there is no such thing as god or Angeles. Good things happen and really bad things happen- good fortune and bad fortune can happen either as a consequence of our action or the random chance of fate.

If there was such a thing as this "god" creature, he would be evil incarnate to allow such horrible things to happen. And oh so cruel to save one innocent child and not 20 or so others.

Grow up and awake to the fact that god is nothing more than an imaginary being.

December 15, 2012 at 6:48 pm |

getaclue

"It must be felt that there is no national security but in the nation's humble acknowledged dependence upon God and His overruling providence." – John Adams

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the Gift of God? That they are not to be violated by with His wrath? Indeed, I TREMBLE FOR MY COUNTRY when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever." – Thomas Jefferson

"God rules this world. It is the duty of nations as well as men to owe their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow... and to recognize the sublime truths that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord." – Abraham Lincoln

"It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almight God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favors. – George Washington

I guess these guys would have been thrown in prison in our day. It is not that God doesn't care or protect. We have said we don't believe in, want or need you. So, he leaves us to our own devises and removes his divine protection. We are responsible therefore for what happened to those kids. We took way their umbrella of protection.

December 15, 2012 at 6:47 pm |

SixDegrees

What a hate-filled message you christians bring. Have you considered going to Connecticut and telling the parents of all those dead children that they're to blame for their children's death? Because that's what you're saying. Or braying. It is one of the most evil posts on this board, and it is echoed by lots of self-proclaimed christians who use their religion to hide behind while they belittle others with scorn, hatred and other christian values.

Go f uck yourself.

December 15, 2012 at 6:51 pm |

rick

So these guys wrote those words. So what.

December 15, 2012 at 6:52 pm |

Joe

SixDegrees , people like you are to blame....

December 15, 2012 at 6:55 pm |

Blessed are the Cheesemakers

These are the guys who wrote the Consti.tution that keeps religion out of gov't.....you do realize that right?

December 15, 2012 at 6:56 pm |

Steve

But we were protected by God's providence when we were slaughtering an entire race of people and enslaving another?

December 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm |

Joe

It keeps the Govt out of the Church's way smarty pants

December 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm |

Blessed are the Cheesemakers

Joe,

It keeps them both seperated. Freedom is measured by the distance between church and state.

December 15, 2012 at 7:03 pm |

Colin

Yesterday, there was a knock at my door.

John: "Hi! I'm John, and this is Mary."

Mary: "Hi! We're here to invite you to come kiss Hank's ass with us."

Me: "Pardon me?! What are you talking about? Who's Hank, and why would I want to kiss His ass?"

John: "If you kiss Hank's ass, He'll give you a million dollars; and if you don't, He'll kick the guts out of you."

Me: "What? Is this some sort of bizarre mob shake-down?"

John: "Hank is a billionaire philanthropist. Hank built this town. Hank owns this town. He can do whatever He wants, and what He wants is to give you a million dollars, but He can't until you kiss His ass."

Me: "That doesn't make any sense. Why..."

Mary: "Who are you to question Hank's gift? Don't you want a million dollars? Isn't it worth a little kiss on the ass?"

Me: "Well maybe, if it's legit, but..."

John: "Then come kiss Hank's ass with us."

Me: "Do you kiss Hank's ass often?"

Mary: "Oh yes, all the time..."

Me: "And has He given you a million dollars?"

John: "Well no. You don't actually get the money until you leave town."

Me: "So why don't you just leave town now?"

Mary: "You can't leave until Hank tells you to, or you don't get the money, and He kicks the guts out of you."

Me: "Do you know anyone who kissed Hank's ass, left town, and got the million dollars?"

John: "My mother kissed Hank's ass for years. She left town last year, and I'm sure she got the money."

Me: "Haven't you talked to her since then?"

John: "Of course not, Hank doesn't allow it."

Me: "So what makes you think He'll actually give you the money if you've never talked to anyone who got the money?"

Mary: "Well, maybe you'll get a raise, maybe you'll win a small lotto, maybe you'll just find a twenty-dollar bill on the street."

Me: "What's that got to do with Hank?"

John: "In this town, Hank is the same as good luck. All good things are attributed to Hank'"

Me: "I'm sorry, but this sounds like some sort of bizarre con game."

John: "But it's a million dollars, can you really take the chance? And remember, if you don't kiss Hank's ass He'll kick the guts out of you."

Me: "Maybe if I could see Hank, talk to Him, get the details straight from Him..."

Mary: "No one sees Hank, no one talks to Hank."

Me: "Then how do you kiss His ass?"

John: "Sometimes we just blow Him a kiss, and think of His ass. Other times we kiss Karl's ass, and he passes it on."

Me: "Who's Karl?"

Mary: "A friend of ours. He's the one who taught us all about kissing Hank's ass. All we had to do was take him out to dinner a few times."

Me: "And you just took his word for it when he said there was a Hank, that Hank wanted you to kiss His ass, and that Hank would reward you?"

John: "Oh no! Karl has a letter he got from Hank years ago explaining the whole thing. Here's a copy; see for yourself."

From the Desk of Karl
1. Kiss Hank's ass and He'll give you a million dollars when you leave town.
2. Use alcohol in moderation.
3. Kick the guts out of people who aren't like you.
4. Eat right.
5. Hank dictated this list Himself.
6. The moon is made of green cheese.
7. Everything Hank says is right.
8. Wash your hands after going to the bathroom.
9. Don't use alcohol.
10. Eat your wieners on buns, no condiments.
11. Kiss Hank's ass or He'll kick the guts out of you.

Me: "This appears to be written on Karl's letterhead."

Mary: "Hank didn't have any paper."

Me: "I have a hunch that if we checked we'd find this is Karl's handwriting."

John: "Of course, Hank dictated it."

Me: "I thought you said no one gets to see Hank?"

Mary: "Not now, but years ago He would talk to some people."

Me: "I thought you said He was a philanthropist. What sort of philanthropist kicks the guts out of people just because they're different?"

Me: "But 9 says 'Don't use alcohol.' which doesn't quite go with item 2, and 6 says 'The moon is made of green cheese,' which is just plain wrong."

John: "There's no contradiction between 9 and 2, 9 just clarifies 2. As far as 6 goes, you've never been to the moon, so you can't say for sure."

Me: "Scientists have pretty firmly established that the moon is made of rock..."

Mary: "But they don't know if the rock came from the Earth, or from out of space, so it could just as easily be green cheese."

Me: "I'm not really an expert, but not knowing where the rock came from doesn't make it plausible that it might be made of cheese."

John: "Ha! You just admitted that scientists don’t know everything, but we know Hank is always right!"

Me: "We do?"

Mary: "Of course we do, Item 7 says so."

Me: "You're saying Hank's always right because the list says so, the list is right because Hank dictated it, and we know that Hank dictated it because the list says so. That's circular logic, no different than saying 'Hank's right because He says He's right.'"

John: "Now you're getting it! It's so rewarding to see someone come around to Hank's way of thinking."

Me: "But...oh, never mind.

from Jhuger.com.

December 15, 2012 at 6:47 pm |

Joe

This is like an atheist "chick tract" lol

December 15, 2012 at 6:53 pm |

the AnViL

this post has my approval.

good form, old bean.

bloody good form.

December 15, 2012 at 6:59 pm |

Are their truely atheists or just Soulless humans

I am a christian but even I must admit this was funny. On a more serious note if this is the arguement used by AtHeiSts chrisitans are safe.

December 15, 2012 at 9:30 pm |

LJ

Is it possible that there is a God? Is it possible that this creation is not It's work? Is it possible that Jesus descended into hell at his birth? Is it possible the One is perfect? Is it possible that because of the perfection He is pure love? Is it possible that because of that perfection the love is given to all, even that who"s creation this is?
If knowledge was water all that humanity knows would not fill a thimble and all that we do not know would drown the universe. Do not be so smug in you ignorance.

December 15, 2012 at 6:46 pm |

SixDegrees

Lay off the sauce.

December 15, 2012 at 6:47 pm |

Blah blah the wheel's off your trailer

Here's some counseling and advise to the siblings of all gun proponents in congress and in the NRA...Go take your parents guns and kill them and then go kill yourselves and rid yourselves of all your earthly troubles. So longer suckers.

December 15, 2012 at 6:44 pm |

Rick

More hate spews from the mouths of religious leaders than from any other single source...and twice on Sunday. Christians hate Muslims (Franklin Graham...need I say more?). Muslims hate Christians, everyone hates the Jews. Sikh's aren't crazy about the Hindus. and Scientology...what the hell is that?

December 15, 2012 at 6:50 pm |

susan

I believe in God. He is real more than you unbelievers will ever know. You ask where is he? This wasn't an act of God.
I believe it's Satan and his evil plan on taking control of your thoughts,minds, and souls. Unfortunately he's got most of you under his evil spell. Why do most of you nonbelievers hate, blame and unforgive? I've a lost one in a shooting in May this year. God never left my side one moment. We belong to him. We are his children. I've forgiven the shooter who took that person away from me. We need to love one another and start standing united against this evil in this world. We need to show this evil one that our love is stronger, than his evil hate.

December 15, 2012 at 6:43 pm |

Anon

Satan is imaginary as well. Stop living in delusion land.

December 15, 2012 at 6:44 pm |

SixDegrees

Try to keep all that in mind when god puts a bullet in your child's brain.

December 15, 2012 at 6:46 pm |

Truth

Anon, you are also imaginary. Since I have never seen nor met you you obviously do not exist. You are merely a computer generated program (a bot if you will) that randomly posts insulting and untrue words on sites.

December 15, 2012 at 6:52 pm |

Anon

Sometimes I wish I was a bot so I didn't have to witness your religious stupidity.

December 15, 2012 at 6:54 pm |

Colin

This sick, disturbed young man kills 20 innocent little children in Newton, Connecticut. That is an act of almost unimaginable evilness. But, it is NOTHING compared to the hundreds or thousands of beautifu, innocentl little first-born Egyptian children God murdered during the Passover. An event still celebrated by Jews and Christians.

That’s the problem with still trying to believe Iron Age mythology and its attendant morality in the 21st Century. Your faith is so marbled with inconsistencies as to be rendered nonsensical.

December 15, 2012 at 6:42 pm |

Joe

Collin you're pro choice right? How about the cruelties that the Egyptians did to the Jews? do you remember that?...they made them bitter slaves...the Pharao was warned but he wouldn't let God's people go.Pharaos heart was hard as is yours.

December 15, 2012 at 6:51 pm |

Colin

So? What has that got to do with little children? Why were they killed?

Also, who made pharoh's heart "hard"? According to your silly mythology, it was God, right? Then he punishes him for being "hard".

Silly, childish fairytales.

December 15, 2012 at 6:56 pm |

Blessed are the Cheesemakers

Joe,

god back and read your book, you god is the one that hardened Pharoh's heart.

The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.